Message from the CA Director

The California Senate Appropriations Committee considered two medical cannabis bills today – SB 1193 and SB 1262. The committee placed both bills in the “suspense file.” That is an ordinary legislative process by which the Appropriations Committee holds off final approval of some bills until the state budget is approved. If the bills are removed from the suspense file by the committee, they will then proceed to a vote by the full Senate.

SB 1193 by Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) will streamline the process for handling cannabis and plants seized as evidence and require that wrongfully confiscated medicine be returned to its rightful owner. This bill finally codifies ASA’s 2007 California Supreme Court victory in City of Garden Grove v. Superior Court of Orange County, in which the courts first established the right to have confiscated medical cannabis returned. Almost 100 ASA members have already signed our petition in support of the bill.

SB 1262 is a bill by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) that will regulate commercial medical cannabis activity. ASA was instrumental in getting key amendments to make this bill acceptable. There was no discussion or testimony on the bill today, but media reports over the weekend indicate that some problematic amendments may be on the way. ASA will be talking with the Author and sponsors this week to be sure this bill stays on track and works for patients.

Read more about all of the medical cannabis bills ASA is tracking in the state legislature right now on our website.

California News

California continues to sail into uncharted territory this week. Assemblymember Tom Ammiano’s AB 1894 — which would regulate and tax California’s $2 billion medical cannabis industry — could get a floor vote in the Assembly later this month. New legislative analysis of AB 1894 estimates the cost for a California Division of Medical Marijuana Regulation and Enforcement within the Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control at $15 million per year, or roughly 25 percent of the existing ABC budget.Read more here.

---League of California Cities Report New Amendments to Medical Marijuana Bill Would Create a Local-Only Regulatory Scheme (California)Sirrea Sun Times

Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) introduced his SB 1262 in February with the California Police Chiefs Association as sponsor and the League as co-sponsor. As introduced, the bill provided a significant regulatory responsibility for the Department of Public Health (DPH). The new amendments will replace DPH with a local-only licensing structure for the implementation of the Compassionate Use Act (Proposition 215), giving local code enforcement offices a leading role in regulating dispensaries.Read more here.

An Oceanside boy suffering from potentially deadly seizures join hundreds of Southern California families in a search for a new solution after their supplier for a controversial, marijuana-based treatment was shut down.Read more and watch a video here.

Riverside residents will likely get to vote in June 2015 on a measure that would legalize, tax and regulate a small number of medical marijuana dispensaries. After more than four months of circulating petitions, initiative supporters turned in enough signatures to qualify for a ballot, according to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. “People (backing the measure) are excited that all their hard work has paid off, and they’re excited to have the opportunity to educate the community because they know there’s just so much misinformation out there,” said Jason Thompson, an attorney working with Riverside Safe Access, the group that drafted the initiative.Read more here.

A unique Mendocino County program aimed at reducing court backlogs by offering marijuana defendants lesser criminal charges in exchange for sizable restitution payments is at the center of a growing debate over its fairness and legality.Read more here.

In stark contrast from previous council meetings, the Martinez City Council passed an ordinance banning the outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana with no public speakers or council comments. By a vote of 4-0, Martinez joins a growing list of California cities restricting within city limits the growing of medical marijuana. A recent decision by the California Supreme Court to not hear an appeal of lower court ruling that upheld a city’s right to ban the growing of medical marijuana stiffened the council’s resolve to enact a ban.Read more here.

John Duran has heard skepticism expressed in different ways over the course of his run to replace termed-out Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky... “I was medical marijuana’s first lawyer, too,” he added. “Most people don’t realize medical marijuana came out of the AIDS movement, but it helped people having trouble holding medications down.”Read more here.

Events

Monday, May 19, 2014 – CA Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on SB 1193 (Sacramento)The California Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing and vote on SB 1193 at 10:00 AM in Room 4203 in the State Capitol Building in Sacramento. The bill by Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) requires that wrongfully-confiscated medical cannabis be returned. ASA supports this bill. Sign our petition support the bill here. Read more about California legislation here. ---Monday, May 19, 2014 – CA Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on SB 1262 (Sacramento)The California Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing and vote on SB 1262 at 10:00 AM in Room 4203 in the State Capitol Building in Sacramento. The bill by Senator Correa regulates medical cannabis cultivation and processing. ASA supports this bill. Read more about California legislation here.

---Wednesday, May 28, 2014 – Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Meeting (Sacramento)Save the date. The Sacramento County Board will discuss an ordinance regulating indoor cultivation at this meeting. Details are coming soon. The meeting will be 2:00 – 6:00 PM in Board Chambers at 700 H Street, Suite 1450, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Take Action

ASA is proposing legislation for 2015 to prevent patients from being denied an organ transplant based solely on their legal use of medical cannabis. We need to build support for this bill this year to be sure we find an author and get the bill passed in 2015. Will you endorse the MMOTA? Read more and share this link with your friends and loved ones: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/the_medical_marijuana_organ_transplant_act

ASA is the nation’s leading medical cannabis patients’ advocacy organization. The patients, medical professionals, scientists, concerned citizens, and other who comprise ASA are committed to promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works in partnership with state, local and national legislators to overcome barriers and create policies that improve access to cannabis for patients and researchers. ASA provides legal training for and medical information to patients, attorneys, health and medical professionals and policymakers throughout the United States. We also organize media support for court cases, rapid response to law enforcement raids, and capacity-building for advocates. Your support makes it all possible. Join ASA or renew your membership today.

ASA Website Spotlight

This is the fourth in a five part series on ASA’s innovative Medical Cannabis Advocates Training Center, a free online resource for patient-advocacy skills building. This week, we are spotlighting the "Building a Movement" section of the website. While it is true that a few individuals can accomplish a lot, it will take a strong, vibrant movement for us to achieve our ultimate goal - safe and legal access for all Americans. This section will give you the tools you need to build a strong movement that will help you reach your political goals. In this section: outreach, volunteer and leadership development, coalition building, and more.

ASA believes that good policy is created when those who are most affected are at the table. Just because you are medical cannabis patient, it doesn't mean that you automatically have a degree in public policy. ASA has always been committed to demystifying political systems and providing advocates the tools they need to participate in the processes in a meaningful way. Learn all about grassroots organizing, citizen lobbying, media spokesperson training, and much more using the Medical Cannabis Advocates Training Center.

The “California Weekly Roundup” is a once-a-week email for ASA Members and Friends that focuses on relevant news and important updates, action alerts, meetings and special events. Send items for the California Weekly Roundup to CARoundup@SafeAccessNow.org before 12:00 PM on Friday to be included in Monday's distribution.